NTB Wong Chapter 23: The Child with Respiratory Dysfunction

Which statement is correct regarding the role of the epiglottis? A. This structure prevents food from entering the nasopharynx. B. The epiglottis helps with vocal cord vibration. C. After swallowing this structure moves downward to prevent swallowed contents from entering the trachea. D. The epiglottis is found in between the vocal folds.

C. After swallowing this structure moves downward to prevent swallowed contents from entering the trachea. Option A is wrong because this is the role of the uvula (NOT epiglottis). Option B is wrong because this is the role of the GLOTTIS (not epiglottis). Option D is where the glottis is found (not epiglottis). The epiglottis is found on the inside of the thyroid cartilage and is at the back of the tongue.

The parents of a 3 year old bring their child to the ER. The parents report the child suddenly developed a fever overnight and has had issues swallowing, which has led to excessive drooling. In addition, the parents explain that the child complains of sore throat, and it is hard to understand the child's speech because her voice is muffled. Based on this information, your next nursing actions will be? Select all that apply: A. Assess the child's temperature orally B. Obtain a throat culture C. Count the patient's respirations D. Assess the child's throat for tonsillar exudate E. Keep the child NPO

C. Count the patient's respirations & E. Keep the child NPO Based on the patient's signs and symptoms this may be a case of epiglottitis. Therefore, the nurse should NOT stick anything in the patient's mouth that could can a spasm (example: taking oral temperature, throat culture, using a tongue depressor etc.) and further block the airway.

n infant has developed staphylococcal pneumonia. Nursing care of the child with pneumonia includes which interventions? (Select all that apply.) a. Cluster care to conserve energy b. Round-the-clock administration of antitussive agents c. Strict intake and output to avoid congestive heart failure d. Administration of antibiotics

ANS: A, D Antibiotics are indicated for a bacterial pneumonia. Often the child will have decreased pulmonary reserve, and the clustering of care is essential. Antitussive agents are used sparingly. It is desirable for the child to cough up some of the secretions. Fluids are essential to kept secretions as liquefied as possible.

The nurse is teaching nursing students about normal physiologic changes in the respiratory system of toddlers. Which best describes why toddlers have fewer respiratory tract infections as they grow older? a. The amount of lymphoid tissue decreases. b. Repeated exposure to organisms causes increased immunity. c. Viral organisms are less prevalent in the population. d. Secondary infections rarely occur after viral illnesses.

ANS: B Children have increased immunity after exposure to a virus. The amount of lymphoid tissue increases as children grow older. Viral organisms are not less prevalent, but older children have the ability to resist invading organisms. Secondary infections after viral illnesses include Mycoplasma pneumoniae and group A b-hemolytic streptococcal infections.

Which type of croup is always considered a medical emergency? a. Laryngitis b. Epiglottitis c. Spasmodic croup d. Laryngotracheobronchitis (LTB)

ANS: B Epiglottitis is always a medical emergency needing antibiotics and airway support for treatment. Laryngitis is a common viral illness in older children and adolescents, with hoarseness and URI symptoms. Spasmodic croup is treated with humidity. LTB may progress to a medical emergency in some children.

The nurse is assessing a child with acute epiglottitis. Examining the child's throat by using a tongue depressor might precipitate which symptom or condition? a. Inspiratory stridor b. Complete obstruction c. Sore throat d. Respiratory tract infection

ANS: B If a child has acute epiglottitis, examination of the throat may cause complete obstruction and should be performed only when immediate intubation can take place. Stridor is aggravated when a child with epiglottitis is supine. Sore throat and pain on swallowing are early signs of epiglottitis. Epiglottitis is caused by H. influenzae in the respiratory tract.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is begun on a toddler. Which pulse is usually palpated because it is the most central and accessible? a. Radial b. Carotid c. Femoral d. Brachial

ANS: B In a toddler, the carotid pulse is palpated. The radial pulse is not considered a central pulse. The femoral pulse is not the most central and accessible. Brachial pulse is felt in infants younger than 1 year.

The nurse is caring for a child with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) associated with sepsis. Nursing actions should include: a. forcing fluids. b. monitoring pulse oximetry. c. instituting seizure precautions. d. encouraging a high-protein diet.

ANS: B Monitoring cardiopulmonary status is an important evaluation tool in the care of the child with ARDS. Maintenance of vascular volume and hydration is important and should be done parenterally. Seizures are not a side effect of ARDS. Adequate nutrition is necessary, but a high-protein diet is not helpful.

Which is an appropriate nursing intervention when caring for an infant with an upper respiratory tract infection and elevated temperature? a. Give tepid water baths to reduce fever. b. Encourage food intake to maintain caloric needs. c. Have child wear heavy clothing to prevent chilling. d. Give small amounts of favorite fluids frequently to prevent dehydration.

ANS: D Preventing dehydration by small frequent feedings is an important intervention in the febrile child. Tepid water baths may induce shivering, which raises temperature. Food should not be forced; it may result in the child vomiting. The febrile child should be dressed in light, loose clothing.

The mother of a toddler yells to the nurse, "Help! He is choking to death on his food." The nurse determines that lifesaving measures are necessary based on which symptom? a. Gagging b. Coughing c. Pulse over 100 beats/min d. Inability to speak

ANS: D The inability to speak is indicative of a foreign-body airway obstruction of the larynx. Abdominal thrusts are needed for treatment of the choking child. Gagging indicates irritation at the back of the throat, not obstruction. Coughing does not indicate a complete airway obstruction. Tachycardia may be present for many reasons.

A 3 year old arrives to the ER. The child has a temperature of 102.4 'F, respiratory rate of 45, and is agitated. The child is diagnosed with epiglottitis. You note the child is sitting up, positioned forward with chin in the air and the tongue is protruding with the mouth open. Which nursing intervention below is NOT appropriate for this patient? A. Assist the patient in a supine position. B. Keep the child on the parent's lap during treatments. C. Keep the child nothing by mouth. D. Avoid taking a temperature on the patient orally.

A. Assist the patient in a supine position Allow the child to be in a position that allows them to breathe and be comfortable. The child is in the tripod position, which is a common finding with epiglottis. Placing the child in the supine position is contraindicated because it impedes respiratory effort. A nursing goal is to keep the child calm (avoid things that cause the child to cry because this can affect the airway since the epiglottis is inflamed). So, keeping the child in the parent's lap during treatments is appropriate. In addition, NEVER place anything in the patient's mouth due to the risk of causing spasms which will further constrict the airway.

The nurse enters a room and finds a 6-year-old child who is unconscious. After calling for help and before being able to use an automatic external defibrillator, which steps should the nurse take? Place in correct order. Provide answer using lowercase letters separated by commas (e.g., a, b, c, d, e, f). a. Place on a hard surface. b. Administer 30 chest compressions with two breaths. c. Feel carotid pulse while maintaining head tilt with the other hand. d. Use the head tilt-chin lift maneuver and check for breathing. e. Place heel of one hand on lower half of sternum with other hand on top. f. Give two rescue breaths.

ANS: a, d, f, c, e, b

Which explains why cool-mist vaporizers rather than steam vaporizers are recommended in home treatment of childhood respiratory tract infections? a. They are safer. b. They are less expensive. c. Respiratory secretions are dried. d. A more comfortable environment is produced.

ANS: A Cool-mist vaporizers are safer than steam vaporizers, and little evidence exists to show any advantages to steam. The cost of cool-mist and steam vaporizers is comparable. Steam loosens secretions, not dries them. Both may promote a more comfortable environment, but cool-mist vaporizers present decreased risk for burns and growth of organisms.

A nurse is admitting an infant with asthma. The nurse understands that asthma in infants is usually triggered by: a. medications. b. a viral infection. c. exposure to cold air. d. allergy to dust or dust mites.

ANS: B Viral illnesses cause inflammation that causes increased airway reactivity in asthma. Medications such as aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and antibiotics may aggravate asthma, but not frequently in infants. Exposure to cold air may exacerbate already existing asthma. Allergy is associated with asthma, but 20% to 40% of children with asthma have no evidence of allergic disease.

A child is diagnosed with influenza, probably type A disease. Management includes which recommendation? a. Clear liquid diet for hydration b. Aspirin to control fever c. Amantadine hydrochloride (Symmetrel) to reduce symptoms d. Antibiotics to prevent bacterial infection

ANS: C Amantadine hydrochloride may reduce symptoms related to influenza A if administered within 24 to 48 hours of onset. It is ineffective against type B or C. A clear liquid diet is not necessary for influenza, but maintaining hydration is important. Aspirin is not recommended in children because of increased risk of Reye syndrome. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen is a better choice. Preventive antibiotics are not indicated for influenza unless there is evidence of a secondary bacterial infection.

A 5 year old with acute epiglottitis is intubated for airway management. As the nurse you know that all of the following can be prescribed as treatment for this condition EXCEPT? A. Intravenous fluids B. Antipyretics C. Corticosteroids D. Cough suppressants

D. Cough suppressants A cough is usually absent in this condition, which on the contrary is present in croup (laryngotracheobronchitis). Therefore, cough suppressants are not usually ordered for this condition because there is no cough.

Effective lone-rescuer CPR on a 5-year-old child should include a. two breaths to every 30 chest compressions. b. two breaths to every 15 chest compressions. c. reassessment of child after 50 cycles of compression and ventilation. d. reassessment of child every 10 minutes that CPR continues.

ANS: A Lone-rescuer CPR is two breaths to 30 compressions for all ages until signs of recovery occur. Reassessment of the child should take place after 20 cycles or 1 minute.

The nurse encourages the mother of a toddler with acute laryngotracheobronchitis (LTB) to stay at the bedside as much as possible. The nurse's rationale for this action is described primarily in which statement? a. Mothers of hospitalized toddlers often experience guilt. b. The mother's presence will reduce anxiety and ease child's respiratory efforts. c. Separation from mother is a major developmental threat at this age. d. The mother can provide constant observations of the child's respiratory efforts.

ANS: B The family's presence will decrease the child's distress. It is true that mothers of hospitalized toddlers often experience guilt but this is not the best answer. The main reason to keep parents at the child's bedside is to ease anxiety and therefore respiratory effort. The child should have constant monitoring by cardiorespiratory monitor and noninvasive oxygen saturation monitoring, but the parent should not play this role in the hospital.

A nurse is caring for a school-age child with left unilateral pneumonia and pleural effusion. A chest tube has been inserted to promote continuous closed chest drainage. Which interventions should the nurse implement when caring for this child? (Select all that apply.) a. Positioning child on the right side b. Assessing the chest tube and drainage device for correct settings c. Administering prescribed doses of analgesia d. Clamping the chest tube when child ambulates e. Monitoring for need of supplemental oxygen

ANS: B, C, E Nursing care of the child with a chest tube requires close attention to respiratory status; the chest tube and drainage device used are monitored for proper function (i.e., drainage is not impeded, vacuum setting is correct, tubing is free of kinks, dressing covering chest tube insertion site is intact, water seal is maintained, and chest tube remains in place). Movement in bed and ambulation with a chest tube are encouraged according to the child's respiratory status, but children require frequent doses of analgesia. Supplemental oxygen may be required in the acute phase of the illness and may be administered by nasal cannula, face mask, flow-by, or face tent. The child should be positioned on the left side, not the right. Lying on the affected side if the pneumonia is unilateral ("good lung up") splints the chest on that side and reduces the pleural rubbing that often causes discomfort. The chest tube should never be clamped; this can cause a pneumothorax. The chest tube should be maintained to the underwater seal at all times.

Which drug is considered the most useful in treating childhood cardiac arrest? a. Bretylium tosylate (Bretylium) b. Lidocaine hydrochloride (Lidocaine) c. Epinephrine hydrochloride (Adrenaline) d. Naloxone (Narcan)

ANS: C Epinephrine works on alpha and beta receptors in the heart and is the most useful drug in childhood cardiac arrest. Bretylium is no longer used in pediatric cardiac arrest management. Lidocaine is used for ventricular arrhythmias only. Naloxone is useful only to reverse effects of opioids.

The parent of an infant with nasopharyngitis should be instructed to notify the health professional if the infant displays which clinical manifestation? a. Fussiness b. Coughing c. A fever over 99° F d. Signs of an earache

ANS: D If an infant with nasopharyngitis shows signs of an earache, it may mean a secondary bacterial infection is present and the infant should be referred to a practitioner for evaluation. Irritability is common in an infant with a viral illness. Cough can be a sign of nasopharyngitis. Fever is common in viral illnesses.

The nurse is caring for a 10-month-old infant with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis. Which intervention should be included in the child's care? (Select all that apply.) a. Place in a mist tent. b. Administer antibiotics. c. Administer cough syrup. d. Encourage to drink 8 ounces of formula every 4 hours. e. Cluster care to encourage adequate rest. f. Place on noninvasive oxygen monitoring.

ANS: D, E, F Hydration is important in children with RSV bronchiolitis to loosen secretions and prevent shock. Clustering of care promotes periods of rest. The use of noninvasive oxygen monitoring is recommended. Mist tents are no longer used. Antibiotics do not treat illnesses with viral causes. Cough syrup suppresses clearing of respiratory secretions and is not indicated for young children.

You're assessing a 4 year old with epiglottitis who just arrived to the pediatric clinic. The child is drooling and has a respiratory rate of 45 breaths per minute. In addition, the child is becoming increasingly apprehensive. Which findings below exhibited by the patient represents an acute upper airway obstruction that requires IMMEDIATE treatment? Select all that apply: A. Stridor B. Cyanosis C. Chest retractions D. Nasal flaring

All the answers are correct. All these findings represent an upper airway obstruction and require immediate treatment.

During a 2 month well visit with a patient and her mother you educate the parent on the most common cause of epiglottitis. You explain to the mother the most common cause of this condition is the _______________. In addition, you explain _________ can help prevent most cases of this condition? A. respiratory syncytial virus, palivizumab B. influenza virus, annual flu shot C. haemophilus influenzae type b, Hib vaccine D. rotavirus, RV vaccine

C. haemophilus influenzae type b, Hib vaccine Most common cases of epiglottitis are caused by a bacteria that attacks the epiglottis called haemophilus influenza type B. The Hib vaccine can be given as prevention. Three to four doses are given (depending on the brand used) at 2, 4, 6 months, and 12-15 months.

Select all the signs and symptoms that can present with epiglottitis? A. Slow onset B. Difficulty swallowing C. Drooling D. High Fever E. Barking cough F. Stridor G. Exudate on Tonsils H. Crackles

The answers are B, C, D, and F.